Highlights from the May 2026 MTHA Board of Directors meeting

Below are the action items voted on by the MTHA Board of Directors at its open meeting at Laurel Park on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.

AMATEUR RIDERS CLUB OF AMERICA (ARCA) RACES

The Board unanimously approved the running of two Amateur Riders Club of America (ARCA) races at Laurel Park, consistent with the 2025 racing season, to be conducted at the discretion of The Maryland Jockey Club.

JOCKEY MOUNT FEES

The Board unanimously ratified its previous online vote approving the increase in Jockey Mount Fees, which became effective May 14, 2026.

BREEDER AND DEVELOPER BONUSES

The Board unanimously reaffirmed the long-standing rules of the Maryland-Bred Owner and Developer Bonus programs, including the requirement that Maryland-bred horses must be registered with the Maryland Horse Breeders Association in order to be eligible to receive such bonuses.

2025 AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Board unanimously approved the 2025 audited Financial Statements and 990 for MTHA as presented by the organization’s independent auditor Craig Gegorek.

TRAINER THREE-HORSE START LIMIT

The Board unanimously approved a proposal to advocate to the Maryland Racing Commission for an amendment to MD Code Reg. 09.10.01.17 governing trainer multiple entries in overnight races.

The proposed amendment would permit a trainer to enter up to three horses in an overnight race, provided the race contains at least six separate betting interests represented by different owners and/or trainers and remains subject to the current preference rules.

The proposed regulation language would remove the language in bold and brackets below:

MD Code Reg 09.10.01.17

XX. The following rules apply to purse races and overnight events, but do not apply to stake races or sweepstakes:

[(1) A trainer may enter up to three horses in an overnight race if that race has a least six entries with separate owners and or trainers.] In no case may more than two horses start in the same ownership and/or trainer to the exclusion of a single entry.

(2) If the race is to be divided into two or more races, an entry under the same or separate ownership shall be separated and one horse of the entry shall receive a draw in each division of the original race.

(3) If possible, the name of the jockey engaged to ride each horse shall be furnished at the time of entry. However, if the jockey has not been named by the normal scratch time for that day's races, the stewards shall select, in their judgment, the best jockey available to ride any horse on which a jockey has not been named.

2026 TIMONIUM PURSES

The Board approved a purse schedule for the 2026 seven-day Timonium State Fair meet consistent with 2025 purse levels.

GROOMS AWARDS

The Board unanimously approved advocating to The Maryland Jockey Club for the reinstatement of the full Grooms Awards program.